The MEPs may be part of a national party, or a European political party, but for a political grouping in parliament to be formed there need to be 25 MEPs from seven different states. Being part of a group grants access to state funds and committee seats but the group members must be ideologically tied. Groups of convenience, such as the Technical Group of Independents that previously existed, are no longer allowed and the minimum requirements for group formation have been raised, forcing less numerous elements to sit as NIs.[clarification needed]